A letter writer who commented about a vocal minority swaying Sussex County Council on Atlantic Fields lives three miles west of the huge proposed shopping complex. I live about the same distance east of it. Neither of us rely on Route 24 to get to essential shopping, or to Beebe's emergency department.
That small vocal minority likely includes people who live closer to the site, and must rely on Route 24 to get to the essentials they need. The road is crowded in the off-season, and when the visitors to the beach want to shop, or can't go to the beach because of foul weather, such a shopping complex would be a huge draw for them, making what is already difficult considerably worse.
DelDOT widened Coastal Highway to three lanes northbound, three lanes southbound, plus two bus lanes and left-turn lanes of one to three lanes. I came here just as they were finishing the work about 2008. That widened highway serves the Tanger Outlets and all the businesses and, importantly, all the residences that have been built along it. It is adequate, but not really filling the need.
A huge shopping complex on the proposed site might be just fine after DelDOT widens Route 24 between Coastal Highway and at least Love Creek to accommodate the existing residences. How wide? Well, at least two lanes each direction plus bus lanes and turning lanes. Does that route have a wide enough right-of-way to accommodate that? I don't know. If it isn't already on the drawing boards, it would be many years before completion – and a major expense to us as taxpayers.
The huge impermeable area involved also appeared to me to be an issue. Rehoboth Beach has a well not far from the site.
I would love to see a map of Sussex County that identifies how many residences rely on each intersection along Route 24, Coastal Highway and other major roads they use on a regular basis, and, importantly, in an emergency situation. I hope the county has developed such a map and will make it public.
What was it that Margaret Mead said about a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens?
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